Suns’ woe grows as Giants stand tall
GREATER Western Sydney has inflicted more pain on the Gold Coast AFLW team.
With rain sweeping the ground through most of the match, scoring was difficult but two first-quarter goals from the Giants was enough to eke out a 2.6 (18) to 1.2 (8) victory at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.
Alyce Parker was magnificent for the winners, racking up 24 disposals, including six clearances, and laying five tackles.
Once Alan McConnell’s Giants established a healthy 16-point lead at half-time, its defence held up brilliantly, repeatedly turning away Gold Coast’s forward forays.
With the Suns struggling early on, coach David Lake did not waste any time before switching things up.
As the teams came out for the second quarter, he threw Sarah Perkins – starved of opportunities for the previous five quarters over two rounds – into the ruck.
Perkins gave the Suns some life around the contest and was also responsible for setting up their only goal.
Deep in the fourth quarter, the Adelaide premiership player ripped the ball straight out of the ruck from a throw-up and kicked it forward to find Jamie Stanton for a mark and goal.
The Suns generated 21 inside 50s but managed just three scoring shots, while the Giants thrived with the ball on the ground.
After scoring a record low two points against Brisbane last round, Gold Coast looked like equalling the mark before the goal from Stanton with two minutes remaining gave them faint hope.
Alison Drennan was tireless, gathering 21 disposals, including nine clearances, and 12 tackles, while Stanton (18 and a goal) also impressed.
The Suns remain one of four winless teams this season.
NORTHCLIFFE ironwoman Georgia Miller conquered the mental demons that dogged her return to competitive racing with a spectacular sprint to the finish line on Sunday, denying superstar Lana Rogers a triple crown at Kingscliff.
Miller opened up on the battle with nerves she fought for the first time on Friday.
Her ordeal hampered her preparations and left friends and family concerned for her headspace.
The 24-year-old finished a respectable eighth in her return to Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series competition, well below her usual standards, which lit her fire to rebound with a second and first place respectively in the weekend’s final events.
“I can’t believe it myself,” Miller said. “I’m actually proud of myself coming back from eighth. Eighth isn’t a bad result in the scheme of things but I put a lot of expectations on myself to do better.
“When training this hard you want to see better results. To get a second and first has me over the moon and given me a lot of confidence into these next three rounds.”
Her elation is a far cry from the emotional rollercoaster Miller endured on Friday.
Usually all smiles and laughter on the starting line, Miller cut a different figure in her first race since the COVID-19 pandemic smashed apart her plans for 2020.
“I felt slack on Friday and I can’t pinpoint it to anything,” she said.
“I was extremely nervous on Friday having not raced professionally in some time.
“Normally I’m pretty good – pretty go with the flow, love a laugh and smile. I try to conserve my nerves so the only ones who see it are mum (Jenny) and Riley, my partner.
“He knows when I’m off and they could see it Friday and that’s saying something.
“I had a good hard look at myself (after finishing eighth) and was disappointed.
“I went to bed shaking it off and wanted to wake up and put out there what I could do.
“The difference (on Saturday and Sunday) was believing in myself. I’ve learned so much about myself in these last three days and belief in myself is the biggest.
“I put in so much work, so believing in that and not letting things get into my head was incredible.
“I really focused in and now I’ve found that killer instinct.”
Miller proved it with an incredible chasedown of series leader Rogers, tailing the 2019-20 ironwoman champion before pipping her on the final wave on the ski.
It was a comeback to remember, for the race and the Kingscliff event but even more so for Miller, with the newfound confidence that will serve her well through the rest of the series.